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Mass transfer operations – nature of
interface between phases
Gas-liquid contact e.g. absorption, evaporation,
distillation etc
Liquid-liquid contact e.g. extraction
Liquid-solid contact e.g. crystallisation, adsorption
Gas-solid contact e.g. adsorption, drying etc
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Mass transfer operations – controlling
transport phenomenon
Mass transfer controlling e.g.distillation, absorption,
extraction, adsorption etc
Mass transfer and heat transfer controlling e.g. drying,
crystallisation
Heat transfer controlling e.g. evaporation
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Methods of operation
Non steady state – concentration changes with time
e.g. batch processes
Steady state
Stage
Differential contact
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When both phases are flowing:
Co-current contact
Stage 1 Stage 2
Cross flow
1 2
Counter-current flow
1 2
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Choice of separation process
Factors to be considered:
Feasibility
Product value
Cost
Product quality
selectivity
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Liquid-liquid extraction principles
Feed phase contains a component, i, which is to be
removed.
Addition of a second phase (solvent phase) which is
immiscible with feed phase but component i is soluble
in both phases.
Some of component i (solute) is transferred from the
feed phase to the solvent phase.
After extraction the feed and solvent phases are called
the raffinate (R) and extract (E) phases respectively.
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Normally one of the two phases is an organic phase while the
other is an aqueous phase.
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Example - Penicillin G
6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) is manufactured
by GSK in Irvine. It is used to manufacture
amoxicillin and ‘Augmentin’.
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Extractants
The efficiency of a liquid liquid extraction can be
enhanced by adding one or more extractants to the
solvent phase.
The extractant interacts with component i increasing the
capacity of the solvent for i.
To recover the solute from the extract phase the
extractant-solute complex has to be degraded.
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Distribution coefficient
K = mass fraction solute in E phase
mass fraction solute in R phase
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Immiscible liquids
e.g. water – chloroform
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Partially miscible liquids
E.g. water – MIBK
Consider a solute acetone.
Need to use a triangular phase diagram to show
equilibrium compositions of MIBK-acetone-water
mixtures.
Characteristics are single phase and two phase regions,
tie lines connecting equilibrium phase compositions in
two phase region.
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Triangular phase diagrams
B
%S %A
P
%B
A S
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continued B
E
M
A S
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Choice of solvent
Factors to be considered:
Selectivity
Distribution coefficient
Insolubility of solvent
Recoverability of solute from solvent
Density difference between liquid phases
Interfacial tension
Chemical reactivity
Cost
Viscosity, vapour pressure
Flammability, toxicity
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Selectivity
β = (mass fraction B in E)/(mass fraction A in E)
(mass fraction B in R)/(mass fraction A in R)
β>1
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Distribution coefficient
K = y/x
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Insolubility of solvent
B
A S
A S
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Recoverability of solvent and solute
No azeotrope formed between solvent and solute
Mixtures should have a high relative volatility
Solvent should have a small latent heat of
vapourisation
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Density
A density difference is required between the two phases.
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Interfacial tension
The larger the interfacial tension between the two
phases, the more readily coalescence of emulsions will
occur to give two distinct liquid phases but the more
difficult will be the dispersion of one liquid in the
other to give efficient solute extraction.
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Chemical reactivity
Solvent should be stable and inert.
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Physical properties
For material handling:
Low viscosity
Low vapour pressure
Non-flammable (high flash point)
Non-toxic
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Mass balances
yn+1,xn
x
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Operation
Batch
Continuous
Single/multi stage contact
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Equipment
Mixer-settler units
Columns
Centrifugal contactors
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